Undisputed Super-Middleweight title: Canelo Alvarez VS Jermell Charlo
Saturday, September 30 – T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
Those lucky enough to be at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday will get to watch a type of boxing match the world has never seen. Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez puts his four belts on the line against a man who already has four belts of his own. Alvarez will be facing undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo in the first-ever men’s battle of four belt holders. This should be epic.
Adding to the spice is the war of words that has erupted between the two fighters over the last week. Canelo has won 10 of his last 11 world title bouts, but Charlo has been working to get under the legendary fighter’s skin by claiming that the 33-year-old is on the downside of his career.
If those claims are true, the Charlo is the type of boxer that will be able to take full advantage. He has lost just once in his 37 fights as a professional, but it will be interesting to see how he copes with the step up in weight to 168 pounds for this super middleweight clash. Given that Charlo has already announced his next fight will be back down at 154 pounds, there are some questions as to whether his punching power will travel with him to the heavier weight.
The questions about Canelo having lost a step are legitimate. Much of that is because the man who has been seen as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of his time has been so active over the years. With 63 professional fights under his belt – and with Canelo having jumped around weight classes continually to put on the best shows for his fans – there is a ton of wear and tear on the Mexican fighter’s body.
If Canelo is slower, then Charlo will take advantage. His 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol showed that Alvarez gets hit now by more shots than he did in his 20s, but he still has punching power that can make up for any slowed reflexes in his defensive stance.
One thing that could decide this is Alvarez’s toughness and insane work ethic against the nasty streak of Charlo. If Charlo can hurt Canelo, then he will load up and finish him off, but if Canelo can throw Charlo off his game by outworking him, then the American could get frustrated and lose his focus for the split second it would take Alvarez to land the fight’s decisive blow.
I like Alvarez to win this as the favorite, wearing Charlo down before finishing him in the 8th round or later. The surgery to repair his left wrist is a big factor here, with that wrist that has been an issue in his last three fights now seemingly mended and no longer a problem.
If you want an underdog pick for the night, then look at the talented Erickson Lubin to beat Jesus Ramos. I think that Ramos is the better fighter, but Lubin has five more years of experience than the 22-year-old, and this feels like it could be a move up in class a little too early in his career.
